Since Juno and I moved to Boulder County last year, we’ve sniffed out dozens of dog-friendly hikes in Boulder and beyond. Not every trail in Boulder County is dog-friendly, so you have to be extra careful when planning — especially when combining separate trails to make a loop.
Thankfully, there are plenty of furry-friendly trails to choose from if you know where to look. I found all of these by filtering for “dog friendly” on AllTrails, then confirming their friendliness —and open status, especially during COVID!— on the Boulder County parks page. AllTrails is usually accurate, but not always.
After plenty of wildflower walks, sunset summits, and snowy-slippery slopes, here are our top 11 dog-friendly hikes in Boulder County:
1. Blue Lake
Yes, it’s actually blue! This beautiful high alpine lake in the Indian Peaks Wilderness is 5 miles roundtrip from the Brainard Lake parking area, which closes in winter. (Dogs aren’t allowed here in winter, either, so best to do it in summer when the lake is snow-free and blue.) The scramble from Blue Lake (pictured) to Little Blue Lake was too much for Juno so we stopped here — no regrets!
2. Lost Lake
This lovely trail near Nederland certainly gets “lost” in winter, when it hides under a thick layer of snow and ice. We snowshoed it a few times this winter and look forward to checking it out in the summertime, too. Parking at the trailhead is quite limited, so arrive early! (And note the falling-down remains of the Hessie townsite on your first mile in.)
3. Walker Ranch Loop
8.3 miles of woodsy beauty through and around Boulder Canyon, with small waterfalls and views of South Boulder Creek. In winter I’d recommend going clockwise, which means you climb a steep section of stairs rather than slide down them when they’re icy. In summer I’d recommend counterclockwise, so you can go down the stairs and make the hike easier on yourself. (Opinions on that vary, since either way you’ll have to make up the elevation at some point!)
4. Mount Sanitas
A heart-pumping ascent ends in jaw-dropping views of Boulder, 3.2 miles round trip. The loop via Lion’s Lair is NOT dog-friendly, so unless you do a point-to-point hike you’ll have to descend the same way you came.
5. Royal Arch Trail
A steep, scenic 4+ miles ending at a gorgeous natural arch you won’t see anywhere else in Colorado. As with most hikes that begin at Chautauqua, this one gets crowded at peak times. (We had the trail almost to ourselves at sunset, but sunset views themselves aren’t great as the arch faces east.)
6. Green Mountain West
A 4 mile out-and-back with super rewarding views at the top, Green Mountain West is another great short weekday hike that gets crowded on weekends. (Note: the popular Green Mountain Loop is NOT dog-friendly. Make sure you’re using Green Mountain West if your pupper comes along.)
7. Gregory Canyon to Flagstaff Summit and the Boulder Star
This loop is 3.6 miles without including the side trip to the Boulder Star, which I highly recommend if it’s lit. (Usually December-January, but also during COVID-19.) Hiking up cool, green Gregory Canyon is a treat, followed by panoramic views of the city from Flagstaff Summit.
8. The Mesa Trail
This flat, beautiful 13.2 mile trail is an out and back with no true payoff point: the views are pretty good most of the hike, so you can go as far as you want before turning around. It also intersects with many of Boulder’s other trails, so you can choose your own adventure. (Just be sure the other trails are also dog-friendly.)
9. First and Second Flatirons Loop
This steep-but-short 2.5 mile trail gives you nice views of Boulder’s iconic flatirons and the city below. It gets crowded during the day and on weekends, so save this one for sunrise/sunset or weekdays if you can.
10. Button Rock Dam via Sleepy Lion Trail
This 5.4 mile loop starts out on a gravel road before climbing to a rocky summit overlooking Ralph Price Reservoir, with great views of Longs Peak and Mount Meeker (blocked by Juno’s ears in this photo!) There’s a small waterfall at Longmont Dam and even a cute Little Free Library in the middle of the trail.
11. Eagle Wind Trail at Rabbit Mountain Open Space
This easy 3.8 mile stroll gives you great views of the Boulder flatirons and Longs Peak. It’s our favorite weeknight sunset hike (just 15 minutes from our front door) for its carpets of wildflowers in the spring. We almost always see deer, elk, and rabbits here —hence the name Rabbit Mountain—without too many other people.
What’s your favorite dog-friendly hike near Boulder? Let me know in the comments!
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